Even with the rise of social media, a campaign website is still critical as both an online platform and as a place to reference in your political advertising. While a campaign website contains the core message and branding, people follow candidates and campaigns online through a variety of methods – from news feeds to Facebook and Twitter updates.
A website is only one component of a greater online campaign. You would not pin your candidacy on just having a website any more than you would pin your campaign on a single tri-fold flyer or a snazzy bumper sticker. In other words, you not only need a campaign website, but also a plan to develop and market it effectively.
In this module, we will go through the creation of a campaign website – from choosing a domain name to design considerations to building out the site. Learn the what’s possible, the potential pitfalls, and how to deal with it all.
Module Sections
- Choosing and Registering a Domain Name
Getting the right name is important for now – and in the future. - Political Domain Squatting and Other Dirty Tricks
What to do if someone takes your name or attempts to hold your campaign hostage. - Renewing Domain Names
How to do it, and what to look out for from shady operators. - Running a Slate of Candidates
The pros and cons of running multiple candidates from a single campaign website. - Microsites Extend Reach
What are they, when should you use them, and what does it take to create them? - Planning Your Campaign Website
Ideas for planning the initial content of your website. - Writing For The Web
It’s different than writing for print. Tips and techniques for more effective communication. - Critical Pieces of Text Needed In Your Campaign Website
Here is a list of things that should always be spelled out when building out a political campaign website. - Essential Website Disclaimers
The three essential disclaimers your campaign website needs – and how to create them. - Optimizing Your Web Content
An introduction to search engine optimization, or SEO. - Authoritative Linking
Improve your SEO and increase your credibility. - Preparing Text and Images For The Web
The best techniques for getting your content ready for production. - Designing a Campaign Website
Find out the common design elements and conventions of current campaign web design. - Website Hosting
Not all hosting is the same. - Setting up Search Engine Accounts
Find out why these account are important, and how to get them started. - Setting Up Website Analytics
You are going to want to know who is going to your site, and what is bringing them there. - What To Do With Your Campaign Website After the Election
More…
- Find sites and tools in the Resource Directory
